lOlS] The Grasses of Illinois 397 



Panicularia pallida (Torr.) Kuntze {Glycerin pallida Trin.).- — This 

 was reported by Vasey ('61, 671) and Flagg ('78, 281) from Illinois. 

 The specimens in the University herbarium labeled Glyccria pallida 

 are a species of Poa which it strongly resembles. No other specimens 

 have been seen and its occurrence in Illinois is doubtful. 



56. FESTUCA L. 



Fescue Grass 



The species of Fcstuca have 2- to many-flowered spikelets arranged 

 in open or contracted panicles. The glumes are narrow, keeled, and 

 pointed. The lemmas are firm, not keeled but rounded on the back, 

 often awned or awn-pointed. The leaves are narrow, in some species 

 involute, and the ligule is very short and membranous. There are 

 both annual and perennial species. 



a. Lemmas awnless or very rarely awn pointed; leaves flat. 



b. Panicle uarrow, erect, branches short; lemmas 5 to 7 mm. long. 



F. elatior 



bb. Panicle open, rarely erect, branches long; lemmas 4 to 4.5 mm. long. 



c. Spikelets broad, short pediceled, aggregated at the ends of the rather 



short panicle l)ranches. 7''. shorili 



ce. Spikelets narrow, long pediceled, scattered in an open panicle with 



long, slender branches^. 



aa. Lemmas awned, leaves involute. F. ohtusa 



b. Stamens 1 or 2 ; lemmas rough; annual. F. octoflora 



bb. Stamens 3 ; lemmas smooth ; perennial. F. ovina 



Festuca elatior L. 

 Tall or Meadow Fescue (Fig. 245) 



Babcock '73, 97; Patterson '7G, 51; Flagg '78, 282; Higley and Raddin '91, 

 145; Huett '97, 130. 



Culms erect, in loose bunches, 1.5 to 5 feet tall, smooth ; sheaths 

 smooth, or slightly rough at the top ; blades 4 to 16 inches long, 4 to 

 8 mm. wide, flat, rough on the upper surface, auricle well-developed ; 

 panicle 4 to 8 inches long, narrow, rather loose-flowered; spikelets 5- 

 to 9-flowered, 9 to 11 mm. long; lemma 5 to 7 mm. long, faintly nerved. 



This perennial species was introduced from Europe, but is now 



naturalized thruout the state. It is an excellent forage grass and 



much cultivated for hay. 



ILLINOIS SPECIMENS: Without locality, Vasey. champaign co. Champaign, 

 Waite, June, 1881 and 1886; Urbana, Seymour, June, 1880. fulton CO. Canton, 

 Wolf. KANKAKEE CO. Kankakee, Ilill, July, 1874. peoria CO. Peoria, Brendel, 

 July, 1883; Peoria, McDonald, July, 1903. piatt CO. White Heath, Mosher, May, 

 1913. ST. CLAIR CO. Mascoutah, JVeUch. stark co. Wady Petra, V. U. Chase 

 58. vermilion CO. Muucie, Mosher, May, 1914. wabash co. Without locality. 

 Shearer; Mt. Carmel, Schneck, July, 1878. will CO. Troy township, Hill 32 in 

 1907; Mokena, Hill 14 in 1910. 



